Chef Michael Smith is a 1991 honors graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in New York. His career has included stints in a Michelin three-star restaurant in London, some of Manhattan's finest kitchens, South America, the Caribbean and throughout North America. He joined the staff of a sleepy country inn on Prince Edward Island in 1992. The Inn at Bay Fortune soon became one of Canada's top 10 restaurants with the Chef noted for his fresh, contemporary approach. Smith's first cookbook, Open Kitchen: A Chef's Day at The Inn At Bay Fortune, was published in 1998 and was awarded that year's bronze medal at Cuisine Canada's Cookbook Awards.
Chef Michael, now one of Canada's best-known chefs, is a passionate advocate for simple, sustainable home cooking and an inspiration for families creating their own healthy food lifestyle. He's the host of Chef Michael's Kitchen, Chef Abroad and Chef at Home seen on Food Network Canada, Global and in more than 100 other countries. He's a judge on Chopped Canada and traveled the world for his innovative new web series Lentil Hunter.
Michael is Prince Edward Island's food ambassador, Canada's best selling cookbook author, innkeeper, educator, professional chef and home cook. He led the team of Sodexo chefs that cooked for the world's Olympians in the Whistler Athletes' Village in 2010. His ninth cookbook, Make Ahead Meals, launched in September 2015 and is currently number one on the bestsellers list and his 2014 cookbook, Family Meals, won the award for "Best English Cookbook" at the Taste Canada Awards 2015. His food media production company and test kitchen, Culinart Limited, is breaking new ground and his social media platforms are Canada's top choice for foodie fun.
Although Michael is a true chef at large his favourite role is Dad, home on Prince Edward Island with his wife Chastity and his children; Gabe, Ariella and Camille! Michael is an avid map collector, long-time windsurfer and novice kite sailor.
